My War Experiences in Two ContinentsMacnaughtan, S. (Sarah)
History
My War Experiences in Two Continents
Macnaughtan, S. (Sarah)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Hospitals, charities, etc.; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, English
Miss Macnaughtan, in the course of her address, referred to the
origin of the war, and how suddenly it came upon the people of this
nation, who were, for the most part, engaged in summer holidays at
the time. She knew what was going on at the front, and knew what
the Welch Regiment had been doing, and "I must tell you," she
added, "of the splendid way in which your regiment has behaved, and
how proud Cardiff must be of it." We knew very well now that this
war had been arranged by Germany for many years. The Germans used
to profess exceeding kindness to us, and were received on excellent
terms by our Royal House, but the veil was drawn away from that
nation's face, and we had it revealed as an implacable foe. The
Germans had spoken for years in their own country about "The Day,"
and now "The Day" had arrived, and it was for everyone a day of
judgment, because it was a test of character. We had to put
ourselves to the test. We knew that for some time England had not
been at her best. Her great heart was beating true all the time,
but there had crept into England a sort of national coldness and
selfishness, and a great deal too much seriousness in the matter of
money and money-getting. Although this was discounted in great
measure by her generosity, we appeared to the world at large as a
greedy and money-getting nation.
However this might be, in all parts of the world the word of an
Englishman was still as good as his bond. ("Hear, hear.") Yet
England, with its strikes and quarrels and class hatred, and one
thing and another, was not at its best. It was well to admit that,
just as they admitted the faults of those they loved best.
Had any one of them failed to rally round the flag? Had they kept
anything back in this great war? She hoped not. The war had tested
us more than anything else, and we had responded greatly to it; and
the young manhood had come out in a way that was remarkable. We
knew very well that when the war was begun we were quite unprepared
for it; but she would tell them this, that our army, although
small, was the finest army that ever took the field. (Applause.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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